September 29th

September 29, 2010

The area outlined in red south of U.S. 30 shows the 32 acres of land now designated as a tax increment financing district in Columbia City. The city council designated the land as a TIF district for 25 years. As a TIF district, property tax revenue for new development will be diverted into the city's redevelopment fund for use only in the TIF district. The current level of property taxes will still be dispersed to taxing entities. Post & Mail image/Whitley County GIS

September 29, 2010

The installation of a fence at Overlook Villas severed a two-inch natural gas line Tuesday morning. The leak resulted in two of the buildings being evacuated until levels of natural gas in the air returned to normal.

September 29, 2010

This year’s household hazardous waste day was as busy as ever, with nearly 400 cars passing through the Whitley County Solid Waste Building’s property Saturday.
“We were non-stop from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. when the last car went through,” said Jorell Tucker, director of the solid waste district.
This year’s day was handled by in-house staff instead of staff from an outside company as with previous years.

September 29, 2010

As the emerald ash borer continues its steady march through Northeast Indiana, it could cost Columbia City thousands of dollars to remove its ash trees as they die and become hazards.
Whether it’s the cost of labor for the removal of the trees or overtime in cleanup when they fall during storms, the tab will not be small.
“In one way or the other, the city’s going to pay for them,” said Eddie Beagles, president of the Columbia City Tree Board.

September 29, 2010

Columbia City firefighters remove rescue equipment Tuesday afternoon from the scene of a crash at state Route 9 and U.S. 30 that injured three people. According to Columbia City police, the driver of the car shown, Jennifer Aumsbaugh, was pinned in the car and suffered the most severe injuries of the three people involved. The people in the SUV that hit Aumsbaugh's car, Douglas and Susan Kelley, suffered minor injuries. The cause of the crash was not yet available.

September 28th

September 28, 2010

A woman already serving time in LaGrange County for aiding in a business burglary there pleaded guilty Monday in Whitley Circuit Court to the same charge in Whitley County for another business burglary.
Twenty-year-old Catessa T. Butler of Albion admitted to her role in the Oct. 30, 2009 burglary to Oliverz in Columbia City and added a third felony conviction to her record for the crime spree with three others.

September 28, 2010

From his second-story office, Korean War Veteran Gene Rohrer offers all the help he can for local veterans who need assistance to deal with a service-related disability.
Rohrer is in his third year as the veterans service officer for Whitley County, but he feels it’s time the office found a permanent location and something more easily accessible than his office that has nearly two dozen steps up to it.

September 28, 2010

Columbia City received another boost in its efforts to restore the property of the former CF Gomma plant.
The city learned last week that it received an additional $110,004 grant for its work with the approved firm that will handle the cleanup work at Gomma.
â€śWe had started out thinking it was going to be considerably less than that,â€ť said Jeff Walker, outside operations manager for Columbia City.

September 28, 2010

FORT WAYNE â€” The general public probably has little awareness of the Northeastern Indiana Regional Coordinating Council (NIRCC) and Region III-A. And yet, the work of NIRCC and Region III-A surrounds everyone. From the roads we drive on, the trails we bike on, the air we breathe, and in some instances the broadband we access and community facilities we enjoy, these two organizations do the behind-the-scenes work to make northeast Indiana a livable region.